Communications copy and schedule holder



May 10,'1949. L. E. CLARK COMMUNICATION COPY AND SCHEDULE HOLDER Filed oct. 29, 194e 4 .1-5 ELE-..1

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Patented May 10, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMMUNICATIONS COPY AND SCHEDULE HOLDER 6 Claims.

My invention relates broadly to communication equipment and more particularly to an improved construction of a copy and schedule holder for communication equipment.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved construction of copy and schedule holder for communication equipment in which the copy and schedules may be conveniently supported with respect to the communications equipment.

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction of copy holder which may be displaced from the schedule holder on a communications equipment for a suil'lcient distance to readily permit insertion and removal of copy.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a unitary construction of communications copy and schedule holder including coacting compartments and associated clamping meansA for facilitating the mounting of copy in a convenient position with respect to the communications equipment.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in the improved construction of combined copy and schedule holder for communications equipment as set forth more fully in the specification hereinafter following by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a. front elevational view of the communications copy and schedule holder of my invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the communications copy and schedule holder; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. l; Fig. 4 is an end view of the communications copy and schedule holder; Fig. 5` is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 5 5 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the communications copy andv schedule holder of my invention as applied to a communications equipment.

Referring to the drawings in detail reference character I designates a rear plate member whichA is adapted to be secured to the casing of a communications equipment represented at 2 in Fig. 6L The rear plate member I is provided with forwardly extending end flanges 3 and Ll which extend the entire vertical height ci the rear plate member I. At the bottom of rear plate member I there is a bottom ledge plate 5. which extends the entire length of the rear plate I and is suite ably secured thereto. The ledge 5 extends in a plane which is substantially normal to the plane of the rear plate I and may be integrally formed with the rear plate I or may be welded theretov and to the forwardly extending end anges 3 and 4.

The rear plate I has a centrally arranged T rail 6 fastened thereto and projecting forwardly therefrom. The forwardly extending end ilanges 3 and 4 provide securing means for a pair of angle members which I have shown at I and 8. Angle members 'I and 8 have ange portions 'Ia and 8a directed toward each other in a plane substantally parallel to the plane of the rear plate i. The plane of the ilanges 'Ia and 8a and the plane of the extremity of the T rail 6 are all coincident thereby allowing the plate I0 which extends thereacross to register therewith in a plane which is substantially parallel to the plane of the rear plate I. Thus two vertically extending relatively narrow pockets II and I2 are formed between plates I and I to constitute compartments serving as message racks to receive message sheets which are readily retained therein.

At each end of the plate ID and in alignment with the vertically extending flanges la and ila of angle members I and 8 I provide spacing strips designatedy at I4 and I5. These spacing strips i4- and I5y have a thickness of approxi-mately le-" Extending across the-spacing strips Ill and I 5 and projectingthe entire length of the copy and schedule holder I provide a clear transparent plastic or glass sheet I6. The clear transparent sheet I6 is secured at its opposite ends by headed' screw members I'I, I8, I9 andy 2t which pass through the clear transparent sheet It, the spacing strips I4 andA I5: and through the front plate entering` the flanges 'Ia` and` 8a of angle members 1 and: 8. The transparent plate I6 extends substantially the entire height of the copy and schedule holder terminating just above the ledge 5 as represented in Fig. 'leaving a space 2i acrossthe bottom thereof as represented in Fig. 5. The. transparent plate I'S terminates in line with the edges of the spacing strips I4 and I5 and the sides of the angle members l and 8. The space provided between the transparent plate Iiiy and the opaque metal plate I0 is designated at 22 as. comprising the schedule holder. Becausev of y the. transparent propertiesl of the plate it it is possible at all times to view or observe the schedules which are supported in the space 22 between plates I and IE.

The copy holder which coacts with the schedule holder already described is mounted for angular displacement and toward and away from schedule holder. I provide depending lugs 25 and 26 which project downwardly from beneath the ledge in a plane substantially removed frorn the rear plate l and forwardly of the schedule holder. The lugs are each horizontally apertured in horizontal alignment and serve as bearing means for the horizontally extending shaft member 2l. The shaft member 27 projects beyond the opposite limits of the copy and schedule holder and terminates in arms 33 and 29. The arms 23 and 29 are angularly movable clear of the opposite limits of the copy and schedule holder and serve as pivot means for pintles 38 and 3l which project from the vertically extending strip members 32 and 33. The vertically extending strip members 33 and 33 constitute confining means for the clear transparent plastic or glass sheet 3d constituting the copy holder. The strip members 32 and 33 which form the supporting means for the copy holder 3ft each embrace the opposite edges 'of the copy holder 3d and are cemented or otherwise secured thereto. It will be observed that the strips 32 and 33 each terminate short of the limiting edge of the transparent plate IB of the schedule holder so that copy holder 34 may move to a position in intimate Contact with the front of the schedule holder i6 for clamping copy between the front of the schedule holder I6 and the rear of the copy holder 3d.

In order to center the copy holder 36 precisely with respect to the schedule holder l@ to align the edges of the strips 32 and 34 with the opposite ends of the schedule holder IS I provide adjustable collar members 35 and 36 on shaft 2'] which enables shaft 21 to be shifted longitudinally through depending lugs 23, 23, 25 and 26. When once adjusted the collars 35 and 36 are set in adjusted position by tighening set screws 35a and 33a carried thereby.

Spring tension is maintained on shaft 2l by means of coil springs 3l and 38. The inner ends of coil springs 3l and 38 are fastened to depending lugs 2li and 25 and the outer ends thereof are fastened to shaft 21. The torsion stored in springs 3l and 38 tends to constantly twist shaft 2'I in a direction which is counter-clockwise looking at the end view in Fig. 4 for thereby continuously urging transparent copy holder 34 into intimate Contact with transparent schedule holder I6 as represented by arrow 39 in Fig. 4. The tension may be adjusted on shaft 2l' by terminating the end of springs 31 and 38 in collar members which may be angularly adjusted on shaft 2l and secured in position by radially extending set screws carried thereby. The collar members when angularly adjusted to secure the required effective tension from coil springs 3l and 38 are fixed in position by adjusting the set screws. For most effective operation I adjust the spring tension of springs 3l and 38 to produce an effective clamping force of one pound by copyholder 34 against schedule holder I6. The copyholder 34 may be withdrawn from the schedule holder I6 to release copy secured therebetween or to permit replacement of copy by movement of copy holder 34 in the direction of arrow 40 in Fig. 4. A uniform spaced displacement of copy holder 34 from schedule holder I6 is effected in substanof its tially parallel planes assuring clearance of the copy from a clamping position between copy holder 3Q and schedule holder I6. The copy holder 33 extends at the bottom thereof substantially to the ledge 5 as represented at 4l in Fig. 5.

The coaction of the several parts of the copy and schedule holders has proven very efficient in the operation of communications equipment for speeding up traflic and assuring against loss of messages, schedules and message copy. The space 22 in the schedule holder permits the insertion of schedule and other data on sheets indicated at d which is conveniently visible to the operator. Message blanks indicated at 42 in Fig. 5 may be retained in the message racks I I and I2 and copy indicated at d3 may be clamped between the copy holder 3d and schedule holder I6 as represented in Fig. 5.

The device of my invention while described particularly for attachment to communication `machines such as automatic printers has much wider application. The device is extremely useful as a customers set for installation in offices as a convenient holder for telegraph message blanks in pockets l I-I2 and as an exhibition for message rate cards and other data insertable in space 22 between plates I0 and I6, and as a clamping holder between plates it and 3d for telegraph messages which have been written and are awaiting pickup by a telegraph messenger. The transparency of the plate 34 permits the prepared message to be readily seen for pickup and dispatch. The device also has wide application in communication centers where the clamping arrangement provided by plates it and 33 enables the copy to be supported temporarily while being conveniently readable.

While I have described my invention in certain preferred embodiments I realize that changes and modifications may be made and I intend no limitations upon my invention other than may be imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A message holder comprising a container of substantially rectangular contour arranged to be mounted adjacent a supporting surface, a transparent sheet supported in spaced relation to said container and conforming with the shape of one side of said container, a coacting transparent sheet movable toward and away from the aforementioned transparent sheet, and means extending from said container and pivotally connected with said last mentioned sheet for journaling said last mentioned sheet with respect to the major axis of said container and for controlling the movement of said last mentioned sheet in planes substantially parallel to the plane of said rst mentioned transparent sheet.

2. An attachment of the class described comprising a `message receptacle attachable to a supporting surface and terminating in a front conning wall, a plastic plate secured in spaced relation to said wall and forming an auxiliary rack, a swingable frame journaled with respect to said message receptacle and a plastic plate carried by Said frame and adapted to move into and out of clamping relation with reference to said rst mentioned plastic plate for clamping message copy therebetween.

3. A schedule and copy holder comprising a supporting plate having an outwardly projecting flange at opposite ends thereof and a ledge extending from the lower edge thereof, an angle member secured to each of said outwardly projecting flanges, a plate supported by said angle member and extending in spaced parallel relation to said rst mentioned plate for forming message racks therebetween, a spacer member mounted at each end of said second mentioned plate, a transparent plate mounted on said spacer members and extending in spaced parallel relation to said rst mentioned plate for forming a schedule holder therebetween, a swingable frame pivotally supported on said ledge, and a transparent plate carried by said frame and movable into and out of clamping relation with said first mentioned transparent yplate for clamping message copy therebetween.

4. A schedule and copy holder comprising a supporting plate having an outwardly projecting ilange at opposite ends thereof and a ledge extending from the lower edge thereof, an angle member secured to each of said outwardly projecting flanges, a plate supported by said angie member and extending in spaced parallel relation to said first mentioned plate for forming message racks therebetween, a spacer member mounted at each end of said second mentioned plate, a transparent Iplate mounted on said spacer members, and extending in spaced parallel relation to said rst mentioned plate for forming a schedule holder therebetween, a swingable frame pivotally supported on said ledge, a transparent plate carried by Said frame and movable into and out of clamping relation with said nrst mentioned transparent plate for clamping message copy therebetween, and spring means for continuously urging said second mentioned transparent plate into clamping relation with said rst mentioned transparent plate.

5. A schedule and copy holder comprising a supporting plate having an outwardly projecting ange at opposite ends thereof and a ledge extending from the lower edge thereof, an angle member secured to each of said outwardly projecting flanges, a plate supported by said angle member and extending in spaced parallel relation to said first mentioned plate for forming message racks therebetween, a spacer member mounted at each end of said second mentioned plate, a transparent .plate mounted on said spacer members, and extending in spaced parallel relation to said rst mentioned plate for forming a schedule holder therebetween, a swingable frame pivotally supported on said ledge, a transparent plate carried by said frame and movable into and out of clamping relation with said first mentioned transparent plate for clamping message copy therebetween, and coil spring means associated with said `swingable frame and operating to continuously urge said second mentioned transparent plate into clamping relation with said rst mentioned transparent plate.

6. A schedule and copy holder comprising a supporting plate having an outwardly projecting flange at opposite ends thereof and a ledge extending from the lower edge thereof, an angle member secured to each of said outwardly projecting flanges, a plate supported by said angle member and extending in spaced parallel relation to said rst mentioned plate for forming message racks therebetween, a spacer member mounted at each end of said second mentioned plate, a transparent plate mounted on said spacer members, and extending in spaced parallel relation to said first mentioned plate for forming a schedule holder therebetween, a swingable frame pivotally supported on said ledge, and a transparent plate pivotally mounted on said ira-me and movable into and out of clamping relation with said rst mentioned transparent plate for clamping message copy therebetween.

LAWRENCE E. CLARK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

